William Roscoe books in order
English historian, abolitionist, art collector, politician, lawyer, banker, botanist and writer
- Lived
- 1753–1831
- Country
- United Kingdom
- Books
- 18
William Roscoe published 6 non-fiction books, 1 children's book, 1 poetry collection and 10 other books, beginning with The Wrongs of Africa (1787). The best-known is The Butterfly's Ball and the Grasshopper's Feast (1807).
Updated September 2026
Where to start with William Roscoe
Non-fiction in order
The Life of Lorenzo De' Medici (1795)
The Life of Lorenzo De' Medici, Called the Magnificent (1797)
The Life and Pontificate of Leo the Tenth (1805)
Considerations on the Causes, Objects and Consequences of the Present War (1808)
Illustrations, Historical and Critical, of the Life of Lorenzo De' Medici, Called the Magnificent (1822)
A Brief Statement of the Causes Which Have Led to the Abandonment of the Celebrated System of Penitentiary Discipline, in Some of the United States of America (1827)
Children's books in order
Poetry in order
The Wrongs of Africa (1787)
Other books in order
A Scriptural Refutation of a Pamphlet, Lately Published by the Rev. Raymund Harris, Intitled, "Scriptural Researches on the Licitness of the Slave Trade." in Four Letters from the Author to a Friend (1788)
The Life, Death, and Wonderful Atchievements of Edmund Burke (1792)
Thoughts on the Causes of the Present Failures (1793)
Considerations on the Causes, Objects, and Consequences of the Present War, and on the Expediency (1808)
An Answer to a Letter from Mr. John Merritt, on the Subject of Parliamentary Reform (1812)
Catalogue of the Very Select and Valuable Library of William Roscoe, Esq (1816)
Observations on Penal Jurisprudence (1819)
Observations on Penal Jurisprudence, and the Reformation of Criminals (1819)
Memoir of Richard Roberts Jones of Aberdaron, in the County of Carnarvon, in North Wales (1822)
Monandrian Plants of the Order Scitamineae (1828)
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About William Roscoe
William Roscoe was a British banker, lawyer and politician. He is best known as one of England's first abolitionists, and as the author of the poem for children The Butterfly's Ball, and the Grasshopper's Feast. In his day he was also respected as a historian and art collector, as well as a botanist and miscellaneous writer. The standard author abbreviation Roscoe is used to indicate this person as the author when citing a botanical name.
Biography from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0. Photo via Wikimedia Commons.
William Roscoe FAQ
- How many books has William Roscoe written?
- William Roscoe published 6 non-fiction books, 1 children's book, 1 poetry collection and 10 other books that we list, as of September 2026.
- What order should I read William Roscoe's books in?
- Publication order is a safe choice; the full list is above. Most readers start with The Butterfly's Ball and the Grasshopper's Feast.
- What is William Roscoe's last book?
- A Brief Statement of the Causes Which Have Led to the Abandonment of the Celebrated System of Penitentiary Discipline, in Some of the United States of America (1827).
- What is William Roscoe's most famous book?
- The Butterfly's Ball and the Grasshopper's Feast (1807) is William Roscoe's most widely read book.
- Can I read William Roscoe's books for free?
- Yes. 3 books by William Roscoe are in the public domain in the US and free to read online or download here.
Authors like William Roscoe
Sources: book lists and dates from Wikidata and Open Library, ratings from Open Library readers, free texts from Project Gutenberg. Last updated September 2026.